Tom's bumps in the road

[Phyllis]

Hope you got a good night's sleep last night, Judith. You will need your strength once you get home too and I know how tired you are- the sleeplessness and the tension take its toll. We will keep our fingers crossed for a dismissal tomorrow and a safe and easy trip home.

 

[WayneGM]

Glad to hear you've decide to get a good nights sleep. YOu need you rest and there's nothing you can really do while nature (and the doctors) take their course. My wife stayed in a hotel the first night and then commuted to visit everyday the rest of the week (we live about an hour and a half away from the hospital). I hope everything stablizes and he's able to go home soon.

 

[netmiff]

You made the right decision to go and get a good night's sleep - you will be needed in the next few days, and will need your strength, and there's nothing worse than trying to be cheery and positive when all you want to do is curl up in a blanket and sleep !

Best wishes, hope everything goes well, and that you are both home again soon.

 

[hensylee]

Tom is in my thoughts and prayers. Hope his rough go is short. Tell him we are thinking of him and leaving the light on for him. Blessins.......

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Judith

My husband, Tyce...avr 2002.. was put on amiodarone for his afib post op. It almost immediately put his heart back in nsr. He continued on it for approximately 6 months and then was weaned off the drug over the course of a month. (I think it was only a month....could have been 6 weeks.) We both had major concerns regarding the drug, but our cardio wanted him to stay on it till all was healed and well. He has not had another bout of afib since. We're both happy to be off the amiodarone, but we trusted our cardio and went with his recommendation.

My philosophy is "whatever works, works." But once he's healed and fine, I certainly would get him off that drug if at all possible.

Evelyn

 

[CHDDoug]

Typical...

Typical...

The way he is feeling sounds typical to me. I felt pretty rough for the first 2-3 days. Nauseous from the pain meds...tired from constantly being waken up for sticks and blood pressure...tired from trying to walk just a little. I'd say all of that is normal. I know that I started walking just a very little bit in the hospital and slowly increased it each day. I felt horrible after I walked...out of breath, chest hurt, tired, etc. It gets better...I promise. Tell him to hang in there and do as much as his body will allow (it'll tell you when you over-do it).

Oh, and I too had an afib the first night after surgery, but haven't had one since.

Take care and God Bless!
Doug

 

[JudithD23]

Hi All,

Well it's Friday morning and we're waiting for another bolast of amioadrone (he had one yesterday) and a 120mg of diltiazem. If these don't work Tom will be cardioverted late morning. He's been in afib for the past 24hrs. And hopefully we'll go home tomorrow. They did a real pretty CT scan yesterday and Dr. Miller brought the photo (is that what it is) in for us to see and we have a copy. What a job, it looks great. Today, when he goes into sinus rhythm they'll do an echo

But other than afib he's doing great. We're both sitting at the Cyber Cafe on the computers. I slept in the room with him last night and since he's not getting up as much, I did ok.

One of these days I would like to start reading others posts and join in. And, you may see Tom on here before the day is out. It would be great for him.

 

[Cooker]

Judith?..I hope Tom converts on his own (meds only)?..I had to be cardioverted one time ?.my experience was quick and painless, and worked?..Please give him my best.

 

[kman]

I was put on an Amiodorone drip about two weeks after surgery because I went into A-Fib,I stayed on it in pill form for about two months,I was concerned because of the side affects I had read about, most of the bad effects im told are from long term use, I asked my doctor to get me off it as soon as possible. I had my surgery four months ago today, have been off Amiodarone for about six weeks now and have had no more problems. It seems that A-fib is very common and that for many it resolves itself over time.
Hang in there, my experience was that the first couple of weeks are tough but after that you see major improvement every day.

 

[kman]

I live five minutes from the stanford hospital, If you need anything like a ride or food etc. send me a private Email.
P.S Craig did not do my surgery but he is a friend and he was very helpfull to me before and after my surgery, your in good hands.

 

[JudithD23]

I live five minutes from the stanford hospital, If you need anything like a ride or food etc. send me a private Email.
P.S Craig did not do my surgery but he is a friend and he was very helpfull to me before and after my surgery, your in good hands.

Thanks so much for the offer. I haven't been online in days, not really since we've been home. But Tom is now online, asking about appetite and the taste of food. It has been a challenge to get him to eat, so I bought some ensure and odwalla protein drinks.

Tom's pain is not bad, he didn't take a vicodin at all today, but he is still breathless and I think, not sure here, but think it's getting worse. He uses the spirometer regularly with not much if any pain.

Tom was cardioverted on Friday, we went home on Saturday and he went back into a-fib on Sunday. We've been to the cardiologist twice already, he had an echo this morning and we see the Dr. tomorrow. In the hospital he gained about 20 lbs, from before the operation to just after it, then lost some weight in the hospital. He lost weight on Monday and Tuesday then gained 3lbs from Tuesday to Wednesday, and lost 2 lbs this morning, from Wednesday. It's the breathlessness that has me worried, but I have to remember that he just had heart surgery and is in a-fib. His Dr. will likely cardiovert him next week unless he converts naturally before then. The Dr. feels that he'll likely stay in rhythm this time since enough of the amiodarone will be in him by then. And the amio will be of short duration.

I read up in one of the previous posts here that the first week or two is hard. Tom is truly out of breath by the time we're halfway through our 5 minute walk. We do those four times a day, plus we go up to the house that we're building; we hope to move in about three weeks. This is our retirement home.

So is the breathlessness within the normal range of expected behaviors (that doesn't seem to be the correct word here, but...) or is it something we should be vigilant about? We do see the cardiologist tomorrow so I will definitely ask him.

I hope all is well with everyone.

Judith

 

[WayneGM]

Being SOB is normal the first couple of weeks. After being on the heart and lung machine, he needs to use the spirometer breathing exercises to reinflate his lungs. When walking, the first week or so short walks of increasing frequency are best. In the early days it was quite normal for me to take a short rest to catch my breadth even during a short 5 minute walk. That said, keep on eye on the SOB in conjunction with weight gain as this can be an indicator of pericardial fluid build-up. Best wishes to the both of you.

 

[zipper2]

judith just want to say hi and keeping you and Tom in
thoughts and prayers,the big hurdle you both had to go
through together,wish you all the best with appointment and your upcomming move to new home,take care of yourself also and glad to see you on the site.Take care prayers continue .





zipper2

 

[JudithD23]

I have to agree with Tracie, Zack's "terrific wife", this site is the greatest. It's so good to learn what's within normal range, and also, and maybe this is most important in the long run, but it's crucial to know what to look out for to protect against or to remedy as soon as possible.

Thanks to everyone for sharing.

Judith